Fluid pressure control apparatus



April 29, 1952 H. c. MAY ETAL FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 10. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Harry CZMay Roy R. StevenS ATTORNEY @n @R @n .umn NN.

April 29, 1952 H. C. MAY ET AL 2,594,576

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 10, 1944 3y Sheets-Sheet 2 Iig. 2

INVENTORS Harry CZ zy BY Rqy R. Sfevens M A TTORNE Y April 29, 1952 H. c. MAY ErAL 2,594,575

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. l0, 1944 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3- 245 RUNSIDLE IDLE AHEADL- l LASTERN 226 FULL SPEED FULL SPEEDv Eig. 5

AHEAD 271 SToP FULL PEED :z (265 E AHEAD RUN ASTERN RUN i I a :DLE a IDLE RUN 'DLE :1 START AHEADXX` AASTEQN STOP 264 FULL SPEED FULL SPEED RUN a IDLE START FULL SPEED E 272 2 ASTERN 69- INVENTORS Harry @May BY Roy R. Stevens ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1952 FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Harry C. May, East McKeesport, and Roy R.

Stevens, Forest Hills, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a corporation oi Pennsylvania Original application February 10, 1944, Serial No.

521,798. Divided and this application December 28, 1944, Serial No. 570,104

Claims. 1

This invention relates to fluid pressure control apparatus and more particularly to means adapted to be controlled by fluid under pressure for controlling a plurality of different operations such as incident to controlling reversible internal combustion engines; the present application being a division of our copending application Serial No. 521,798, led February 10, 1944.

One object of the invention is the provision of an improved fluid pressure supply system for an apparatus such as above described.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the above type embodying means for insuring the integrity of operation of the apparatus in case of certain failures and to also prevent certain operations when not desired.

lOther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings; Fig. l is a diagrammatic view, mainly in elevation, of a pneu- A brake is associated with propeller shaft II for' braking same to stop either or both of the engines I and 2. This brake may comprise a brake drum I2 arranged to turn with the propeller shaft II, and brake shoes I3 arranged at opposite sides of the brake drum for frictionally engagng same. The brake shoes I3 are carried by matic control system for a plurality of engines embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of a pneumatic control device associated with each of the engines shown in Fig. 1 for controlling the individual starting, stopping, reversing, etc., of `the respective engine; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a portion of a selector valve device shown in Fig. 1 in elevation and in Fig. 2 in section, but with the selector or rotary valve in a different position than shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an operators control device several of which are employed and distributed at dierent control stations as shown in elevation in-Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a partial plan View of the operators control device shown in Li; Figs. 6 and '1 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-6 and 1 1, respectively, in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a pneumatic cylinder several of which are shown in elevation in Fig. l; and Figs. 9. l0 and l1 are horizontal sectional views of diterent elements shown in outline in Fig. l..

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the reference numerals I and 2 indicate two like internal combustion engines of the reversible Diesel type which are arranged to be connected through constantly effective hydraulic couplings 4a and 5a and releasable clutches 4 and 5 respectively, to a common drive shaft 3.

A sprocket wheel 8 secured to turn with the drive shaft.3t is connected by a chain 9 to a sprocket wheel I0 which is arranged to turn a shaft II which may be a ships propeller shaft.

levers I4 which are operably connected to a controlling lever I5. One end of lever I5 is operatively connected to a brake cylinder device I 6 arranged to be operated by iiuid under pressure supplied through a pipe I1 for actuating said lever to move the brake shoes I3 into frictional engagement with drum I2. Upon release of iluid under pressure from said brake cylinder device by way of pipe I1, lever I5 will operate to allow release movement of the brake shoes I3 away from the brake drum.

The supply and release of uid under pressure to' and from the brake cylinder device It by Way of pipe I1 is arranged to be controlled by a relay valve device I8. The relay valve device I8 comprises, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing, a cas- E .ing having chambers 325 and 326 separated by a wall 321 and containing, respectively, two coaxially aligned .poppet valves 328 and 329 arranged to seat in the same direction. The valve 328 has a iiuted steam 330 extending through a bore in wall 321 into chamber 326 wherein it engages the valve 329. A spring 33I in chamber 325 acts on valve 328 urging it toward a seat provided on wall 321.

The valve 329 has a Ilut'ed stem 332 arranged to slide in a portion of a bore 333 provided in a plunger 334 which projects from one side of a piston 335 and which is slidably mounted in a bore provided through a wall 333 separatingI chamber 325 from a chamber 331 at said one side of said iston. A sealing ring 338 carried by plunger 334 has sliding and sealing contact with the surface of the bore through wall 336 to prevent leakage of uid under pressure from chamber 325 past said plunger to chamber 331. A seat is provided on the end of plunger 334 for engagement by valve 329.

The bore 333 in plunger 334 is open through one or more ports 339 to chamber 331 and slidably mounted in said bore is a follower 340 one end of which engages the valve stem 332. A precompressed spring 34| contained in bore 333 is interposed between the opposite end of plunger 340 and the piston 335 for unseating valve 329 from the end of plunger 334. A coil spring 342 encircling plunger 334 in chamber 331 has one end supported on the casing'wall 336 while the opposite end bears against piston 335. Spring 342 is also under pressure and is constantly effective to urge the piston 335 to the position shown in the drawing for pulling plunger 334 out of seating engagement with 329,

The valve chamber 3215 is open to a fluid pressure supply pipe 29 adapted to be supplied with fluid under pressure from any suitable source. Valve chamber 32S is connected to pipe I1 leading to the brake cylinder device I5. Chamber 331 is open to atmosphere through a port 2i, while at the opposite side of piston 335 is a control chamber 343 which is connected to a control pipe I9.

The operation of the relay valve device I8 is as follows:

When fluid under pressure is supplied to chamber 343, in a manner which will be later described, thc piston 335 will move against spring 322 and shift the plunger 334 iirst into seating engagement with valve 329 and then act through said valve to open valve 328. When valve 328 is thus unseated, fluid under pressure from the supply pipe 23 will flow to pipe I1 and thence to the brake cylinder device |6 to effect operation of said device to apply the'brake to the propeller shaft II, as above described.

Upon release of fluid under pressure from piston chamber 343, spring 342 will return piston 335 to the position shown in the drawing. The pressure of spring 33| on the valve 328 is greater than the opposing pressure of spring 34| on the valve stem 332, so that, as piston 335 is returned to the position shown in the drawing, the spring 33| will move the two valves 328 and 323 in unison and with said piston until valve 328 becomes seated to cut-off the supply of fluid under pressure to the brake cylinder pipe |1. After valve 323 is seated, the spring 34| will hold valve 329 against movement, so that, plunger 334 moving with piston 335 as it returns to the position shown in the drawing, will move out of seating engagement with valve 329 and thereby open pipe I1 to atmosphere by way of chamber 331 and port 2| for releasing uid under pressure from the brake cylinder device I6 to thereby release the brake on the propeller shaft I I, as above described.

The pipe I9 leads to the side outlet of a double check valve device 22, the opposite end outlets of which device are connected by pipes 23 and 23 to brake interlock valve devices 25 and 26 associated with the clutches 4 and 5, respectively. The double check valve device 22 is of conventional structure and, as shown in Fig. of the drawings, comprises a shuttle valve 344 which upon supply of fluid under pressure to pipe 23 with pipe 2@ vented, will operate in the usual manner to open pipe 23 to pipe I9 and close communication between pipe IS and pipe 24, while upon supply of fluid under pressure to pipe 24 with pipe 23 vented the shuttle valve 344 will operate to open pipe 24 to pipe I9 and close communication between pipes I9 and 23.

rIhe supply and release of fluid under pressure to and from the pipes 23 and 24 is under the control of the brake interlock valve devices 25 and 2G, respectively. These devices are identical in construction and, for illustrative purposes, each may comprise a casing containing a rotary type plug valve 21 arranged to be turned to either of two diierent positions by a lever 28. At the interlock valve device 25, the end of lever 28 is connected by a rod 29 to the clutch control lever 6 associated with engine I, while at the brake interlock valve device 26, the lever 23 is connected by a corresponding rod 23 to the clutch control lever 6 associated with engine 2. It will thus be seen that movement of either clutch control lever 6 to its engaged position or its disengaged position will turn the respective plug valve 21 to corresponding positions.

The plug valve 21 in each of the brake interlock valve devices 25 and 26 is provided with a passage 30 arranged to connect the respective pipe 23 or 24 to atmosphere when the respective clutch control lever 6 is in the clutch disengaged position and to connect said pipe to a control pipe 59 when the lever is in the clutch engaged position. The pipe 59 at each engine is arranged to be either supplied with fluid under pressure or to be opened to the atmosphere in a manner which will be later described.

Each of the engines I and 2 is provided with a'starting air pipe 34 through which air under pressure may be supplied to certain or all of the cylinders of the respective engine through branches (only one of which is shown in the drawings) in order to effect starting of the engine in the direction determined by the timing or condition of the engines valve gear. The supply of air under pressure to and the cut-oil" of such supply to pipe 34 at eachv engine is arranged to be controlled by a starting air valve 38.

The two starting air valve devices 36 are of identical structure and each may comprise, for the purpose of illustration only, a casing containing a rotary plug valve 345 arranged to control communication between the respective pipe 34 and a pipe 346 adapted to be supplied, from any suitable source, with engine starting compressed air. A port 341 in the plug valve 345 is provided for establishing communication between the respective pipes 346 and 34, and a lever 31 is provided for turning said rotary valve to positions for opening and closing said communication. With lever 31 of each of the starting air valves 36 in the position shown in Fig. 1 the supply of starting air to the respective pipe 34 will therefore be cut off, while upon movement of said lever to a position such as indicated by a dot and dash line 38 starting air will be supplied to said pipe, as n,yvill be apparent.

Movement of lever 31 of each of the starting air valves 36 to its different positions may be controlled by a starting control cylinder 32 which is in turn controlled by pressure of fluid in a control pipe 3|. Each of the cylinders 39 may comprise, as shown in Fig. 8, a piston 49 having at one side a pressure chamber 4| open to the control pipe 3| and having at the opposite side a non-pressure chamber 42 containing a spring i3 acting on the piston for urging it to the position shown when the respective control pipe 3| is devoid of fluid pressure. Upon supply of fluid under pressure through the control pipe 3i and thus to pressure chamber 4I, the piston 40 will move against the opposing pressure of spring The piston is provided with a rod 43, a reduced portion 45 of which extends through a suitable bore in the casing and has its end operatively connected to the end of lever 31 of the respective starting air valve 36. At the junction of the larger and smaller portions of the piston rod 124 is a shoulder 46 arranged to engage the end othe casing for limiting movement of thepiston 40 by pressure of fluid provided in chamber fil.

With this construction it will be seen that withpiston 40 in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8, which condition will be obtained with chamber 4I open to atmosphere, the respective starting air valve 36 will cut off the supply of starting air to pipe 34, while upon movement of piston 40 by pressure of fluid in chamber 4i to the position in which shoulder 46 on the piston rod engages the casing, the respective air valve 36 will be moved to the position for supplying starting air to the starting air pipe 34.

Each of the engines l and 2 is provided with a conventional speed governor t arranged to be driven by and to operate at a speed proportional to that of the engine for limiting the fuel supply to and thus the speed of the engine in accordance with the adjustment of a governor control lever 5l. The lever 5I may have an engine idling position in which it is shown in the drawing and may be adjusted to any position between this idling position and a maximum speed position such as indicated by a dot and dash line 52. The lever 5l of the governor on each engine is connected to a speed control cylinder 'arranged to be controlled by pressure of fluid in a pipe 5a.

Each of the speed control cylinders 53, may for the purpose of illustration, be identical to the starting control cylinder 39 and thus operative with the respective pipe 54 open to atmosphere to move the connected governor control lever 5I to the engine idling position, and operative upon supply of fluid to said pipe to adjust said lever out of the idling position to a position corresponding to the pressure of such fluid. A certain maximum pressure of fluid in the control pipe 54 will cause operation of each speed control cylinder 53 to move the respective governor control lever 5| to the maximum speed position indicated by the dot and dash line 52, as will be apparent. The control of pressure of fluid in pipe 54 at each of the engines will be hereinafter described.

Associated with each of the engines l and 2 is a fuel cut-off device 55 which may be arranged to 'out ofi the supply of fuel to the respective engine in any conventional manner, such for example as by rendering the fuel pumps on the engine inefective to provide fuel to the engines injectors.- Each fuel cut-ofi device 55 may be controlled by a lever 56 having aV fuel cut-oi position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 and which is movable from this position to a fuel cut-in position indicated by a dot and dash line 51. For moving lever 56 of each fuel cut-off device 55 to its different positions it may be connected to a fuel cut-off cylinder 53 which in the present einbodiment may be like the cylinders 53 and 39 above described and which is arranged to be controlled through a pipe 5ta connected to pipe 59. When uid under pressure is supplied to pipes 5S and 59a on each engine the respective cylinder 58 will act to move lever 56 of the respective fuel cut-off device 55 to its fuel cut-off position in order to allow stopping of the engine, while upon release of uid under pressure from said pipes the cylinder 53 will cause movement of said lever to its fuel supply position, indicated bythe dot and dash line 5l, to allow supply of fuel to said engine.

Each of the engines is provided with a rockable shaft 60 for controlling, in any conventional manner as by gears and racks 53 the reversing of the valve timing or valve gear of the respective engine to provide for starting and operation of the engine in either one direction or in the reverse direction. A gear 6l is'secured to each of the shafts 60 for turning samer and this 6 gear in turn is arranged to be operated in a manner and by means which will be later described.

Engines having characteristics and arranged to be controlled by means such as above set forth briefly are well known to those versed in the art, and since the specific structures of such means and of the engines are notessential to a clear understanding of the invention, any further discussion thereof would only involve unnecessary complications in the present application and hence will be dispensed with.

The system for controlling the starting, stopping, reversing, etc., of the engines l and 2 comprises what may be called a maneuvering control device- 65 associated with each engine, an operators or engineers control valve device 66 associated with each of said maneuvering control devices for individually controlling the respective engine. a remote or pilots control valve device 61 for controlling in multiple or individually the two engines through the respective maneuvering control devices 65, and a station selector valve device 68 associated with each maneuvering control device 65 for selectively rendering the engines controllable by the respective engineers control device 66 or by the pilots control device 61.

According to one feature of the invention, the control system further embodies a dual uid pressure supply system which normally provides an individual supply of fluid under pressure to each of the maneuvering control devices 65 and engineers control devices 66. This dual fluid pressure supply system embodies a source of fluid pressure, such as may be provided in a storage reservoir 69, and two reducing valve devices 'IU and 'Il of any suitable structure arranged to supply fluid from this reservoir at a desired reduced pressure through check Valves l2 and 13, of identical structure, to pipes 'I4 and 'I5 leading to the maneuvering control devices 65 and engineers control devices 66 associated with engines i and 2, respectively. The pilots control valve device 61 is supplied with fluid under pressure through a pipe 16 connected to pipe 14. The two pipes 'I4 and 'I5 are connected by a pipe Ti in which is arranged a cut-01T valve device '18. rlhe cut-oil valve device 'I8 may comprise a casing containing a rotary valve 18a having a closed position in which it is shown in the drawing, and which is adapted to be turned by a handle 78h through an arc of to an open position. The valve 78a has a port '18e adapted in the open position to establish communication through pipe Tl. In the closed position of valve 18a this communication will be closed.

Normally the rotary valve 78a, will be in its closed position, but in case of failure of the supply of fluid under pressure to either of the pipes 'I4 or 15, due for example to failure of the respective reducing valve device 16 or ll, said valve may be turned to its open position so as to supply uid under pressure to both of said pipes from the reducing valve device still operating, the check valve 'I2 or 13 preventing back flow of iluid under pressure to the reducing valve device which may have failed so as to prevent loss of such fluid pressure in case the failure would be such as to permit escape of iuid under pressure to the atmosphere.

According to another featurev of the invention, individual cut-01T valve devices '19, 86 and 8| are provided in pipes 15,14 and '16, respectively, to cut-oil the supply of fluid under pressure to the maneuvering control devices 65 and to the pilots control valve device 61 in case of failure of said devices or to permit repair thereof without loss of uid under pressure from the reservoir 69.

The cut-orf valve devices 19, 89 and SI are ci identical structure and each may comprise, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings which is a horizontal sectional view of the cut-ofi valve device 19 as seen in Fig. 1, a casing containing a rotary plug valve 348 having an open position in which it is shown in the drawing and which is adapted to be turned by a key 349 (Fig. l) in a clockwise direction through an arc of 90 to a closed position. The plug valve 349 has a T port 359 adapted in the open position to establish communication between the respective pipes connected to opposite ends of the casing. In the closed position of valve 348, this communication is closed and the T port 359 connects the pipe at the fluid pressure outlet side of the valve device to an atmospheric vent port 35|, and this is of particular importance in connection with the cutoff valve devices 19 and 89, as will be later brought out.

Each maneuvering control device 65 comprises (Fig. 2) a bracket 85 upon which is removably mounted a iluid motor 86 for reversing the valve gear or timing of the respective engine, and a timing or interlock valve device 81. Also removably mounted on each bracket 85 is the respective engineers control valve device 99 and station selector valve device 9S.

Each fluid motor 86, which may hereafter be referred to as the reversing motor, comprises a cylinder containing a double acting piston 88 having at one side a pressure chamber 89 and provided with a rod 99 projecting from the opposite side through a pressure chamber 9| and a pressure head 92 to the exterior of the casing. Outside of the pressure head 92 the rod is provided with gear teeth 93 (Fig. l) constituting la rack, in mesh with gear 9| of the respective engine, whereby movement of the piston 88 in its cylinder will operate the gear 8| to turn the reversing shaft 99. The piston 8S has two operating positions, namely, the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 for positioning the shaft 99 to provide for operation of the respective engine in one or what may be called an astern direction, and a second position in contact with the pressure head 92 for conditioning shaft 99 to provide for operation of the respective engine in the reverse, or an ahead direction. Movement or the piston 88 to the astern position shown in Fig. 2 is arranged to be effected by supplying iluid under pressure to chamber 9| to act on one face of the piston while opening chamber 89 at the opposite face to atmosphere. Movement of piston 98 to its ahead position in contact with the pressure head 92 is arranged to be eiected by supplying fluid under pressure to chamber 89 while opening chamber 9| to the atmosphere.

In each maneuvering control device the supply and release of uid under pressure to and from chamber 89 is controlled by means of an ahead control valve device 93, while the supply and release of iiuidv under pressure to and from chamber 9| is controlled by means of an astern control valve device 94 both of which devices constitute parts of the interlock valve device 81.

The ahead control valve device 93 in each maneuvering control device comprises a supply valve 95 contained in a chamber 96 and arranged to control now of fluid under pressure from said chamber to a chamber 91 whichis connected to chamber 89 through a passage 98 and a choke 99, and also by way of a check valve |99 by-passing said choke, the check valve being arranged to allow relatively rapid flow of fluid under pressure in the direction toward chamber S9 but to close upon reverse or out-flow of fluid under pressure from said chamber to render the choke 99 eective to control the rate of such out-flow. The chamber 96 containing the supply valve 95 also contains a spring I9| constantly effective on said valve for urging it to its closed position shown.

In each maneuvering control device 85 chamber 99 is open through a passage |92, a chamber |93, passage |94 and a chamber |95 to a passage |99 in the bracket 85. This passage |95 in the maneuvering control device associated with engine I 'is arranged to be constantly supplied with iluid under pressure from pipe 14 by way of the cut-out valve device 89 when the valve device is in its open position, whilein the maneuvering control device associated with engine 2 the passage |99 will constantly be supplied with iluid under pressure from pipe 15 with the cut-out valve device 'I9 in its open position.

The ahead control valve device 93 in each maneuvering control device 85 further comprises a fluid pressure release valve |91 contained in chamber 91 and engaging the end of a stem projecting from the supply valve 95 whereby the two valves are movable in unison. The release valve |91 has a uted stem slidably mounted in a bore |29 provided in a plunger |98 which in turn is mounted to slide in a bore provided in a bushing |99 extending through a chamber I i9 which is in constant communication with the atmosphere through a passage I I, a chamber |2, and a port I i3. The lower end of bushing |99 engages a ring seal ||4 encircling and having sliding contact with the periphery of plunger |98, while engaging the upper end of said bushing is a similar seal I I5 also having sliding contact with the periphery of plunger |98. These seals are held under compression at opposite ends of the bushing |99 and in contact with plunger |98 by a nut I I9 and are respectively eiiective to prevent leakage of iluid under pressure along said plunger from chamber 91 to chamber I I9 and from chamber I|9 to a chamber I I1 into which the plunger |98 extends. The bushing |99 is provided with an annular cavity encircling the plunger |98 and open through a plurality of ports II8 to chamber II9-. The plunger |98 is also provided with a plurality of ports I9 establishing communication between ports I I8 and bore I 29 within the plunger |98.

The plunger |98 is provided in chamber ||1 with a head |2| disposed above an annular stop shoulder |22 provided for engagement with said head to limit downward movement thereof, and interposed between this head and the opposite end of chamber I I1 is a spring |23 which is under a chosen degree of pressure. A diaphragm iollower |24 is secured to the opposite face of head I 2| by means of a stud I 25 having screwthreaded engagement in a bore extending through said head ond into the plunger |98, and mounted in this bore below the stud is a follower |29 having a stem |21 extending through a bore in the plunger and having its end engaging the end oi the stem projecting from the release valve |91. An initially compressed spring |28 is interposed between the end of stud -|25 and the follower |29 for holding the release valve |91 against movement upon movement of plunger |98 in a di rection away from said release valve with the supply valve closed.

The follower |24 engages one side of a flexible diaphragm |29 which has at its opposite side a timing chamber |39. The chamber |30 is connected through a passage |3|, a choke |32 and a passage |33 to the respective station selector valve device 68. By-passing the choke |32 is a communication including two check valves |35. and |35, arranged to permit ilow of fluid from chamber lei! around the choke |32 at a relatively rapid rate but to prevent iiow in the reverse direction, so that inilow of fluid pressure to said chamber may be limited by the flow capacity of choke |32. The check valve |35 is subject to the seating pressure of a light bias spring |36.

With chamber I3@l at atmospheric pressure or i charged with fluid at a pressure below a certain degree, spring |23 will maintain the diaphragm |26 in contact with a stop |31 and the plunger its will be elevated `by said spring to aposition the supply valve 95 exceeds that of spring |28 against the release valve |61, as a result of which,

this downward movement of diaphragm |29 and iollower |24 and thereby of plunger |58 will be relative to the release valve Il until said plunger contacts said valve which closes communication between chamber S1 and chamber H9. Further movement of the diaphragm follower will then act'through the release valve |01 to open the supply valve 95.

The astern control valve device 94 in each maneuvering control device 65 is structurally identical to the ahead control valve device 93 just described and, briefly, comprises a fluid pressure supply valve |48; a iluid pressure release valve Elli and a flexible diaphragm |42 operatively connected to these valves for controlling same in accordance with pressure of fluid in a control chamber |63 which is connected through a passage lifi, a choke |45 and a passage ll to the respective station selector valve device 68. Bypassing the choke M5 is a communication in which are disposed two serially arranged check valves, tl and |48, to provide relatively rapid outilow of iluid pressure from chamber |43 but to render choke |555 effective to limit iniiow. The check valve U58 is subject to the pressure of a light seating spring |49.

In the astern control valve device 94 the supply valve is contained in chamber 95 and is arranged to control flow of fluid pressure from said chamber to a chamber |59 containing the release valve itl. Chamber |50 is connected through passage |5| and a choke |52 to chamber di below the reversing piston` 83. A communicationv by-passing choke |52 and containing a checlivalve |53 isprovided to allow relatively rapid inflow of iluid pressure to chamber 9| but to limit outilow oi fluid pressure therefrom to a degree controlled by the flowcapacity of choke |52.' The release valve |4| in the astern control valve. device 94 is provided for controlling the release of iluid under pressure from chamber 5G I and thereby chamber 9| beneath the reversing piston 38 to chamber HD and thence to the atmosphere. I

The timing and interlock valve device 81 associated with each of the maneuvering control valve devices 65 further comprises a starting control valve device |55 for the respective engine, and a fuel and brake control valve device |56 for controlling the ycut-in and cut-oil of the fuel supply to the respective engine, and for also controlling the brake associated with the propel" ler shaft Both of the control valve devices |55 and |55 in each maneuvering control device 55 are structurally identical to the control valve devices 53 and 94 above described.

The starting control valve device. therefore comprises a iiuid pressure supply valve |51, a fluid pressure release valve l'and a ilexible diaphragm |ti9 operatively connected to said valves for controlling same. The supply valve |51 is contained in a chamber itil which is connected by a passage |5| to the respective station selector valve device 68 and said valve is arranged to control ow of fluid from this chamber to a chamber |52 which is connected to pipe 3l lead- 1 comprises a valve |1ll, a valve ill and a flexible diaphragm |12 for controlling said valves in accordance with pressure of iiuid effective in a chamber |13 and the opposing pressure of control spring |69. In the present structure the valve |1|l constitutes a release valve which is contained in chamber |2'and which is arranged. to release fluid under pressure from a chamber |14 to chamber ||2 for ilow to the atmosphere through port H3. The valve |1| constitutes a supply valve for controlling supply of luidv under pressure from chamber lllt to chamber |14 which is connected to pipes 58a and 5S leading to the fuel cut-off cylinder 58 and to the brake interlock valve vdevice 25 or 2S associated with the respective engine. Chamber |13 is connected through a coimnunication including two serially arranged check valves V15 and |16 to passage |64, the check valves being arranged to provide for flow of fluid under pressure from said passage to said chamber but to prevent flow in the opposite direction. The check valve |15 is subject to the light seating pressure of a bias spring |11 urging same to its closed position.

The timing and interlock device 8l associated with each maneuvering control device 65 also comprises a double check. valve 32 open at opposite ends to passages |153 and HQ connected respectively to chambers @l and Eiiil in the ahead and astern control valve devices Q3 and The double check valve iilis arranged to control communication between the two passages i'il and |19 and a passage |8 which leads to chainu oer |13 above the diaphragm |12 in the fuel and brake control valve device |55. With the double check valve in the position shown it opens con municatiorr between passages iS and liti and closes communication between passages |8l and |19. In an opposite position the double check valve will .open passage |86 to passage llt and will close communication between passage |86 and passage |18.

In the bracket S of each maneuvering control device is a double check valve device |85 comprising a bushing |96 which is encircled midway between its ends by an annular cavity |81 to which is connected passage |96. The bushing |85 is provided interiorly and midway between its ends with a bridge having an axial bore |69 open to chamber |81 through a plurality of radial bores |89. At one end of the axial bore |88 is an annular seat |99 arranged for sealing engagement by a valve |9| contained in a chamber |92, while at the opposite end of said bore is an oppositely arranged annular seat |93 provided for sealing engagement by a valve |94 contained in a chamber |95. The two valves |9|` and |94 are connected for movement in unison by a stem |96 loosely extending through the axial bore |99. This stem is of such construction as to allow flow of uid past either valve |9| or |94, when unseated, to bore |89 for supply to the annular chamber |91.

Chamber |92 is connected to a passage |91 arranged to be connected to chamber 9 below the reversing piston 89 'when said piston is in its upper or astern position as shown in the drawing. Chamber' |95 is connected to a passage |98 arranged to be opened to chamber 89 above the reversing piston 88 when said piston is in its lower or ahead position in contact with the pressure head 92. A choke |99 is provided in passage |91 to limit flow of fluid pressure through said passage in the direction of chamber |92 in the double check valve device |85, for reasons which will be later described. The flow capacity of choke |99 is however greatI enough with respect to clearance space which may be provided around the double check valve |9| to allow flow of uid past said valve to the axial bore |88, to provide a sufficient differential in uid pressures on said valve upon said ow to move said valve into contact with seat |90 when chamber |95 containing the check valve |94 is at a pressure slightly exceeding atmospheric pressure. A similar choke 299 is provided in passage |98.

The station selector valve device 68 associated with each of the maneuvering control devices 65 comprises a rotary valve 202 contained in a chamber 215 and having two different control positions, namely a remote control position, in which it is shown in Fig. 2, to provide for control of the respective engine by operation of the pilots control valve device 61, and a local control position, in which it is shown in Fig. 3, to provide for individual control of the engine by the respective engineers control valve device 66. A hand operated lever 293 is operatively connected to the rotary valve 292 for turning same to its different positions.

The brackets 85 of the two maneuvering control devices 65 are connected in parallel (Fig. l) to an ahead control pipe 205, an astern control pipe 296, a starting control pipe 291 and a speed control pipe 209, and all of these pipes are also connected to the pilots control valve device 61. At each engine, pipe 54 connected to the speed control cylinder 53 is also connected to thel respective bracket 85, as well as the uid pressure supply pipe 14 or 15, as above described.

All of these pipes 205, 296, 291 and 298 and 54, as well as passage |96 in the bracket, which is supplied with fluid under pressure from either pipe 14 or 15, are connected to the seat of the rotary valve 202 in each of the station selector valve devices.

In the remote control position of the rotary valve 292 in each selector device 68, the ahead control pipe 295 isconnected by a cavity 299 in said valve to passage |33 leading to the ahead control valve device 93, while the astern control pipe 296 is connected through a cavity 2|9 in said valve to passage |46 leading to the astern control valve device 94. The starting control pipe 291 is connected through a cavity 2|| in said valve to passage |6| leading to the starting control valve device |55, while the speed control pipe 298 is connected by a cavity 2|2 in said valve to pipe 54 leading to the speed control cylinder 53.

Also connected to the seat of rotary valve 202 in each station selector valve device 68 are passages 2950i, 29612, 291:1, 298err and 16a. All of these passages are closed by the rotary valve 292 in its remote control position (Fig. 2) except passage 160, which is opened through a cavity 2|6 in said valve to an atmospheric exhaust port 2 I1.

In the local control position of each rotary valve 202 (Fig. 3) the ends of pipes 299, 296 and 295 are lapped by said rotary valve and the fluid pressure supply passage |95 is connected by a cavity 2|1a to passage 16a. lThe ahead passage |33 and astern passage |46 are connected, respectively, by cavities 2|8 and 2 9 in the rotary valve to passages 205a and 296a. The starting control passage |6| is connected by a cavity 229 in the valve 299 to passage 291a, while the speed control pipe 54 is connected by a cavity 22| in said valve to passage 2081i. In each bracket the passages 295:1, 206a, 291a, 298:1 and 16a all lead to a mounting face 222 on the bracket against which the respective engineers control valve device B6 is adapted to be removably secured.

As above described the several pipes connected to the brackets 85 of the two maneuvering control valve devices 65 are also connected to the pilot-s control valve device 61, such connections being made to a bracket 223 upon which the pilcts control valve device is removably mounted. The passages 295a, 299er, 291a, 296e, and 16a opening at the face 222 of each of the maneuvering control device brackets 85 correspond in relative position and in function to those in the bracket 223 of the pilots control valve device 61, whereby the same control valve device can be used at the pilots control station and at the engineers control station at each engine.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings is shown the pilot's control valve device 61 mounted on the bracket 223, and since the engineers control valve devices 66 are identical, except for the part upon which they are mounted, the following description of the pilots control device 61 will therefore apply to the engineers control device 66.

As shown in Fig. 4, the pilots control valve device 61 comprises a base portion arranged for mounting on the bracket 223 and contains an ahead pilot valve device 224 and an astern pilot valve device 225. Mounted on the base portion is a speed control valve device 226 with which there is associated a starting control valve device 221.

The ahead pilot valve device 224 comprises a iluid pressure supply valve 229 which is contained in a chamber 229 supplied with fluid under pressure from pipe 16 and arranged to control communication between said chamber and a chamber 239 which is connected to the ahead control pipe 205. A spring 236 in chamber 229 acts on valve 228 to seat same. A release valve 23| contained in chamber 239 rests on the end of a uted stem projecting from the valve.

supply valve 223 and has a stem slidably mounted in a bore 233 provided in a plunger 232 which is mounted to slide in the casing. The valve 23| is provided for controlling communication between chamber 238 and bore 233 in the plunger, which bore is open to the atmosphere through a passage 234. A spring 235 in bore 233 acts on the release valve stem for maintaining the release valve in contact with the stem of the supply valve 225 upon movement of the plunger 232 in a direction away from the release valve for opening communication past said release Upon movement of the plunger 232 in the direction of the release valve 23|, the spring 238 will maintain the supply valve 228 seated against the pressure of spring 235 acting on the release valve, whereby the plunger will initially move into contact with the release valve for closing communication between chamber 230 and the atmosphere, and will then act through said valve to unseat the supply valve 228. Upon movement of plunger 232 in the opposite direction or away from the release valve, the spring 235 will seat valve 228 followed by movement of plunger 232 out of contact with the release valve 23|.

The astern pilot valve device 225 is structurally identical to the ahead pilot valve device 224 comprising a supply valve 231fcontained in chamber 229 for controlling communication between said chamber and a chamber 238 which is connected to the astern control pipe 206. A release valve 239 is provided in chamber 238 for controlling communications between said chamber and the atmosphere. A plunger 248 is provided to cooperate with the release valve 239 for controlling operation thereof and of the supply valve 231.

The starting control valve device 221 may also be structurally identical to the ahead run valve device 224 and may therefore comprisea supply valve 242 contained in a chamber 243 which is supplied with duid under pressure from pipe 16, and which valve is arranged to control flow of iiuid from said pipe to a chamber 244 which is open to the starting control pipe 201. The starting control valve device further comprises a fluid pressure release valve 245 and a plunger 245 arranged to cooperate with said valve to control release of fluid under pressure from chamber 244 to the atmosphere.

The speed control valve device 226 may be of any conventional, preferably self-lapping type, such, for example, like that fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,381,222, issued on August 7, 1945, to Harry C. May, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Briefly, this device comprises a plunger 250 operable upon displacement into the device from a normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, to supply fluid to the speed control pipe 288 at a pressure proportional to the degree of such displacement and to release iiuid under pressure from said pipe upon movement of the plunger out of the device in accordance with the extent of such movement, and to provide for opening of said pipe to atmosphere when in the normal position shown in Fig. 4.

As viewed in Fig. 4 the plungers 232, 249 and 25B of the ahead andastern pilot valve devices 224 and 225 and of the speed control valve 226 are arranged side by side in spaced relation to move in a vertical direction, while the plunger 246 of the starting control valve device 221 is arranged to move horizontally, For controlling movement of these plungers a shaft 25| is provided which extends over the ends of the plungers of the run control devices 224, 225 and speed control device 226 and parallel to the plunger of the starting control device 221. This shaft is suitably journaled in the casing and carries three cams 252, 253 and 254, the peripheral surfaces of which are arranged for engagement, respectively, with the plungers 232 and 248 of the ahead and astern pilot valve devices 224 and 225, and with one side of one end of an arm 255, the opposite side of which engages plunger 250 of the speed control valve device 225. The other end of arm 255 is fulcrumed on a pin 25S carried by the casing.

The operating shaft 25| is provided with an axial bore in which is slidably mounted a plunger 258 one end of which projects beyond one end of the shaft 25| for connection with one end of a lever 259. The opposite end of lever 259 is fulcrumed on a pin 269 carried by a lug projecting from the casing. Intermediate its ends this lever engages plunger 246 of the starting control valve device 227.

The operating shaft 25| is provided in one side with a slot, and the plunger 258 is provided with an aligned slot 25| and extending into these slots and pivotally mounted on a pin 262 carried in an ear 263 projecting from the shaft 25| is one end of an operators control lever 264. A pin 265 extending across slot 26| and secured at opposite ends in opposite walls of said slot extends through a recess provided in the end of the operators control lever 234. By this construction it will be seen that movement of the operators control lever 264 about the fulcrum pin 282 lengthwise of the control shaft 25| will shift the plunger 258 longitudinally of said control shaft. Thus movement of the plunger out of the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing will rock the lever 259 in a counterclockwise direction to move the plunger 246 into contact with the release valve 245 and then actuate said release valve to open the supply valve 242 of the starting control device 221 for supplying fiuid under pressure to the starting control pipe 25'?, while the return of the operators lever to the position in which it is shown will operate the plunger 258 and lever 259 to permit closure of the supply valve 242 and the opening of the release valve 245 for releasing i'iuid under pressure from the starting control pipe 291.

The operators control device further comprises a cover 268 which is secured to the base portion thereof and which has a slot 259 (Fig. 5) providing for movement of the operator's control lever 254 in a direction about the axis of the control shaft 25| for rocking said shaft. In this slot the operators control lever 264 may have a stop position intermediate the ends of the slot, and at one or an ahead side of said stop position, a full speed position and an intermediate or run and idle position. At the opposite side of the stop position the lever may have an astern full speed position and an intermediate or run and idle position, all of these positions being indicated by legends in Fig. 5. Adjacent the ahead run and idle position the cover is provided with another slot 21| to permit lateral movement of the lever out of slot 269 for operating the plunger 258 to eifect movement of the starting control valve device 221 for supplying fluid under pressure to the starting control apelar-,7e

pipe 201. A slot 212, like slot 21|, is open to slot 259 adjacent the astern run and idle position to also permit lateral movement of the operators control lever 2SA to eilect operation of the starting control valve device 221 to supply fluid under pressure to the starting control pipe 201. With the operators control lever out of slots 21| and 212 and in slot 269, the starting control valve device 22? will be operated to open the starting control pipe 291 to the atmosphere.

rhe cam 252 provided on the control shaft 25| is operative upon movement of the operators control lever out of stop position in the direction of the legend ahead (Fig. 5) to effect operation of the ahead pilot valve device 224 to open communication between the fluid pressure supply pipe 'iii and the ahead control pipe 205 by the time said lever reaches the ahead run and idle position and then to maintain this communication open during further movement to the ahead full speed position. In all other positions of the lever 29s the ahead control device 22d will open pipe 205 to the atmosphere. The astern cani 2&3 is so arranged as to actuate the astern pilot valve device 225 to open the fluid pressure supply pipe 19 to the astern control pipe 2&9 by the time the operators control lever obains astern run and idle position upon movement from stop position, and to then maintain this communication open during further movement of the lever to the astern full speed position. In all other positions of the operators control lever' the cam 253 permits operation of the astern control valve device 225 to open the astern control pipe 206 to atmosphere.

rThe cam 254 is provided to control displacement of plunger 250 from its normal position into the speed control valve device 225. With the operators control lever in stop position the plunger' 259 will occupy its normal position, in which position the speed control pipe 208 will be open to atmosphere, and the cam 254 is So designed as to maintain this condition upon movement of said lever to both run and idle positions. Upon movement of the operators control lever past either' run and idle position the cam is operative to displace plunger 250 into the speed control device 226 to effect operation thereof for supplying fluid to pipe 208 at a pressure proportional to the extent of such movement, and to provide a maximum pressure of uid in said pipe in each of the full speed positions.

In each of the station selector valve devices 68 the rotary valve 202 is arranged to be held seated, against pressure of fluid which may be acting on the seating face thereof through any of the passages cr cavities open to said face, by uid under pressure supplied to chamber 215 through a passage 215 from, according to another feature of the invention, either the liuid pressure supply passage 95 by Way of a check valve 211 or from the ahead or astern control pipes 2.05 or 206V by Way of check valve 218 or 219, respectively, under conditions which will be later brought out. The check valves 211, 218 and 219 are arranged to allow flow of uid under pressure to chamber 2,15 but to prevent reverse ilow out of said chamber.

The control apparatus above described is identical to that disclosed in the above mentioned copending application, and While the structure thereof has been described in considerable detail, the following description of its operation Will be limited to only that deemed necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the invention.

Operation In operation, let it be assumed that fluid pressure storage reservoir is supplied with fluid under pressure, that the cut-oil valve 18 is in closed position, and that the cut-cut valves 19, and 8| are in their open positions. Fluid at the proper reduced pressure will therefore be supplied by the pressure reducing valve device 1li to pipes 14 and 1G leading to the maneuvering control device 65 associated with engine l and to the pilots control device respectively, while at the same time fluid at the same reduced pressure Will be provided by the pressure reducing valve device 1| to pipe 15 through which it Will flow to the maneuvering control device 55 associated with engine Fluid under pressure thus supplied to each of the maneuvering control devices 65 will flow to passage 596 therein and thence past the check valve 2li and through passage 216 to the rotary valve chamber 2?5 for holding the rotary valve 232 seated, and at the same time, lluid will also flow from passage |99 through chamber and passage |04 to chamber |93 in the brake and fuel control device 55 and from chamber |93l through passage |'i2 to chamber 95 containing the fluid pressure supply valves 95 and |40 of the ahead and astern control valve devices 93 and Sii, respectively.

Let it further be assumed that lever' 293 and thereby rotary valve 262 in each of the selector valve devices 58 is in the remote control position rendering the engineers control devices 69 ineffective for controlling operation of the respective origines and rendering the pilcts control device 51 effective to control operation of said engines.

Let it further be assumed that the pilots control lever 254 is in stop position and that the engines are stopped from last operation in an ahead direction and that the pilot desires to restart the engines in the ahead direction and to accomplish this moves said lever to the ahead run and idle position for effecting operation of the ahead pilot valve device 224 to supply fluid under pressure from the supply pipe l5 to the ahead control pipe 2&5.

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the ahead control pipe 205 will flow to each of the maneuvering control devices 65 and therein be transmitted through cavity 299 in the selector rotary valve 202 to passage |33 and thence to passage |3| leading to diaphragm chamber |30 in the respective ahead control valve device 93. When the pressure of fluid thus obtained in chamber |30 and acting on one side of diaphragm |29 in each of the ahead control valve devices 93 is increased to a degree sufficient to overcome the opposing force of spring E23, said diaphragm will deflect to close the respective release valve |01 and open the supply valve 95 for supplying fluid under pressure from chamber 95 to chamber 91.

In each maneuvering control device, uid under pressure then flows from chamber 91 through passage 98 and past the check valve |00 to chamber 89 above the reversing piston 98. At this time chamber 9| below the reversing piston 33 is open to the atmosphere through choke |52, passage |5| and past the release valve IM in the respective astern control valve device SLi, so that the pressure of fluid provided in chamber 29 is rendered eective to move the reversing piston 39 downwardly from its astern position in which it is shown in Fig., 2 to its ahead position in contact with pressure head 92, which movement reverses the valve timing of the respective engine to provide for starting and running of the engine in its ahead direction.

At the same time as fluid under pressure is supplied from the ahead control valve device 93 to chamber 91 and thence to chamber 89 above the reversing piston 88 in each maneuvering control device 65, fluid from chamber 91 will also flow through passage |18 to the upper end of the double check valve |82 and move said check valve to the position in which it is shown in the drawing in case it is not already in such position, whereupon fluid will flow past said check valve to passage |88 and thence to chamber |13 above the diaphragm |12 in the respective brake and fuel control valve device |56. When the pressure of fluid thus obtained in diaphragm chamber |13 is increased sufficient to overcome the opposing pressure of spring |69 the diaphragm will move downwardly to close the supply valve |1| and to open the release valve |18, whereupon fluid under pressure will be released from pipes 59 and 58a and the respective fuel cut-out cylinder 58 to permit operation of said cylinder to move lever 56 of the fuel control device 55 to its fuel supply position indicated by the dot and dash line 51. This release of fluid under pressure from pipe 59 at both engines Will also permit release of uid under pressure from pipes 23' and 24 through the respective brake interlock valve devices 25 and 26 and thereby from the brake control relay valve device |8 which will then operate to elTect a release of the brake on the propeller shaft in order that the propeller may be turned by the engine upon the running thereof.

As the reversing piston 88 in each of the ma-` neuvering control devices 65 is moved from its astern position to its ahead position, the passage |91 is opened to the chamber 89 after a certain slight movement of the piston out of the astern position, whereupon fluid supplied to chamberi B9 for moving the piston 83 will flow to said passage and thence to chamber |92 in the double check valve device |85. The pressure of uid thus provided in chamber |92 and effective on the check valve |9| will then move said valve into contact with the seat rib |96 against opposing pressure of huid which may be effective in chamber |95 on the check valve |94, and which opposing pressure will substantially equal that provided in chamber 9| by movement of piston 88. At substantially the time the reversing piston 88 attains its ahead position in contact with the pressure head 92, the passage |98 will be opened to chamber 99 above said piston, whereupon fiuid effective in said chamber will flow to passage |98 and thence to chamber |95 in the double check valve device |95. Fluid thus provided in chamber |95 will then flow past the unseated check valve |94 to passage |66 and thence through choke |65 and passage |64 to chamber |63 above diaphragm |59 in the starting control valve dcvice |55. When a sufficient pressure is thus obtained in chamber |63 to overcome the opposing pressure of control spring |61 the diaphragm |59 will deect to close the respective release valve |58 and open the supply valve |51.

The opening of valve |51 in each maneuvering control device 65 as just described will, however, be without effect at this time since chamber |66,

which is connected to the starting control pipe- 261, is open to the atmosphere by way of the starting control valve device 221 in the pilots control valve device 61 with the pilots control lever 264 in the ahead run and idle position adjacent to but out of the start slot 21|. Move- 18 ment of the pilots control lever 264 into slot 21| will however operate the starting control device 221 to supply uid to the starting control pipe 201 and thence to chamber |69 in the starting `control valve device |55 in both maneuvering control devices. In each maneuvering control device the fluid thus supplied to chamber |60 will then flow past valve |51 in the starting control device |55 to pipe 3| and thence to the respective starting cylinder 39. When the pressure of fluid in the cylinders 39 is then increased to a sufficient degree, said cylinders at both engines will operate the starting air valves 36 to supply starting air to pipes 34 from which it will flow through the different pipes 35 to the engine cylinders for causing the engines to start turning in the direction determined by the engine valve gearing as adjusted by the respectiv-e reversing pistons 88. With the fuel control devices 55 adjusted as above described to supply fuel to the engines, such fuel will be provided or injected as the engines are placed in motion by the starting air from pipes 34 and will thus be effective to cause the engines to immediately lire and run in the selected direc- After the engines are thus placed in motion and are running on fuel supplied thereto, the pilot will move his control lever 264 out of slot 21| to the ahead run and idle position to operate the starting control device 221 to release fluid under pressure from the starting control pipe 261 and thereby from pipes 3| and the starting air cylinders 39 on both engines, whereupon said cylinders will operate the respective starting valves 39 to cut off the supply of starting air to pipes 34. With the pilots control lever 264 in the ahead run and idle position conditioning the speed control device 226 to open the speed control cylinder 53 at both engines to atmosphere, the engines will then continue to run on fuel at an idling speed.

The pilot may now accelerate the two engines in unison to any desired speed above idling by suitable adjustment of the control lever 264 between the ahead run and idle position and the ahead full speed position for supplying fluid to the speed control cylinders 53 at a pressure to provide corresponding adjustment of the governor control levers 5| at the two engines, as will be apparent.

Now assume that with the engines stopped the pilot desires to start them inthe reverse or astern direction. To accomplish this he will move lever 264 from the stop position to the astern run idle position and then into the starting slot 212. This operation of the pilots control lever will actuate the reverse pilot valve device Y 225 to open the astern control pipe 296 to chamber 229 for supplying fluid under pressure from pine 16 to said control pipe.

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the astern control pipe 266 will ow to each of the ma neuvering control devices 65 and thence through passage |46 and choke |45 to chamber |43 in the respective astern control device 94, wherein it will act to deect the diaphragm |42 downwardly to close the respective release valve |4| and open supply valve |49. The opening of the supply valve |48 in the astern control device 94 of each maneuvering control device will supply fluid under pressure from supply pipe 14 or 15, as the case may be, to chamber |59 from which it will flow in one direction through passage |5| and past check valve |53 to chamber 9| below therevers ingpiston 98, for moving saidpiston from lthe ahead position in contact with pressure head 92 to its astern position shown in Fig. 2.

At the same time as fluid under pressurev is supplied from the astern control device 94 through chamber |50 to chamber 9| in each of the maneuvering control devices, fluid pressure will also ow from said chamber |50l through passage |19 to the lower end of the double check valve |82 and move said check valve to its upper position, since passage |13, open to the opposite end of the check valve, is at this time open to atmosphere through the respective lahead control valve device 93. In the upper position of the double check valve |82 fluid under pressure will then iiow from passage |19 to passage |80 and thence to diaphragm chamber |13 in the brake and fuel control valve device |56 to cause operation of said device to release fluid under pressure from pipe 59 on the respective engine to permit operation of the fuel control cylinder 58 to return the fuel cut off device 55 on said engine to its fuel cut-in position. This release of fluid under pressure from pipe 59 at the two engines will also permit release of the brake on the propeller shaft In each maneuvering control device, movement of the reversing piston 38 from its ahead position in contact with pressure head 92 toits astern position shown in Fig. 2, will rst open passage |98 to chamber 9| so that fluid under pressure will now from said chamber to chamber |95 in the double check valve device |85, and this pressure acting on the check valve |94 will move same into contact with its seat |93 and thus move the check valve |9| out of engagement with its seat |90. When the reversing piston 63 then attains its astern position, .duid will be supplied from chamber 9| to passage |91 and this fluid will flow past the check valve |9| in the double check valve device |85 to passage |66 and thence through choke |65 to chamber |63 above diaphragm |59 in the starting control valve device |55. The diaphragm |59 will thereby be deected to close the release valve |58 and open the supply valve |51 to permit iiuid under pressure supplied to the starting control pipe 201 by way of the pilots control device 61 in its astern start position to flow to the starting pipe 3| to thereby effect operation of the starting air cylinder 39 and starting air valve device 36 to supply starting air to the starting pipe 34 on the respective engine. The two engines will then be placed in motion by the starting air supplied to the respective pipes 34, and since the fuel control devices 55 on the engines were previously conditioned for supplying fuel to the engines, the engines, after being placed in motion by starting air, will fire and run on fuel.

After the two engines have been thus started and are running on fuel, the pilot will move his control lever 264 out of the slot 212 back to astern run and idle position to release fluid under pressure from the starting air cylinders 39 at the two engines for thereby cutting off the supply of starting air to the engines. The pilot may then adjust his control lever 264 in the direction of the astern full speed position as required for accelerating the two engines to provide the desired rate of rnc-vement of the ship in the astern direction.

In order to stop the engines from either direction of operation the pilot need only move the control lever 264 back to stop position in which both the ahead and astern control pipes 205 and 206 are opened to the atmosphere. The ahead or astern control valve device 93 orA 94,'whichever was last effective in the two maneuvering control devices 65 to determine the direction of operation of the engines, will then operate upon the release of fluid under pressure from the respective control pipes 205 or 266, to release actuating fluid pressure from the respective reversing piston chambers 69 and 9| past the release valve |01 or |4|, as the case may be, and also from chamber |13 past the check valve |82 in the respective fuel and brake control device |56. The parts of the fuel and brake control device |56 in both maneuvering control devices will then return to the positions in which fluid under pressure will be supplied from pipe 14 or pipe 15 to pipe 59 on the engine to operate the cylinder 58 to actuate the fuel cut-olf device 55 to its fuel cut-off position to allow stopping of the engines. Fluid pressure thus provided in pipes 59 on the engines will also flow to the brake interlock valve devices 25 and 26, and thence to pipes 23 and 24 and from one or the other of pipes 23 or 24 through the double check valve device 22 to effect operation of the brake relay valve device |8 to apply the brake to the propeller shaft I| for bringing the two engines to a stop.

In the operation above described it will be noted that the fluid under pressure supplied by the pilots control device to the ahead control pipe 205, the astern control pipe 206, the starting pipe 201 and the speed control pipe 298 iiows to the seating face of the rotary valve 292 in each of the selector valve devices 68 and thence through said valve to effect their respective control operations. Likewise fluid under pressure from the supply pipes 14 and 15 flow to the seat of the rotary valves 202 of the respective selector valve devices. The pressure of fluid thus provided at the seats of these rotary valve acts thereon tending to unseat same. Unseating of each of these rotary valves is however normally prevented during operation of the apparatus by fluid at supply pressure provided in the rotary valve chamber 215 by iiow from passage |06, past the check valve 211 and through passage 216.

In the maneuvering control device 65, associatedV with engine I, the supply of uid to passage |06 is obtained from the reducing valve device 10 through pipe 14, while in the maneuvering control device associated with engine 2 this supply of fluid to passage |86 is obtained from pipe 15 supplied with fiuid under pressure from the reducing valve device 1|. With both pipes 14 and 15 thus supplied with fluid under pressure, as normally intended, the communications controlled by check Valves 218 and 219 perform no useful function.

In case of failure of the supply of uid pressure to pipe 15, due for instance to rupture of said pipe or to failure of the reducing valve device 1| to operate as intended, a loss of fluid under pressure from the rotary valve chamber 215 of the selector valve device 68, associated with engine 2, may occur by leakage past the check valve 211. If the pilots control valve device is then moved to either one of the run and idle positions for supplying fluid under pressure to either the ahead control pipe 205 or astern contron pipe 206, the rotary valve 202 at engine 2 will not be blown from its seat thereby, since said pressure will become effective through the connection including the check valve 218 or check valve 219 in the rotary valve chamber 215 at engine 2 to act on and maintain the rotary valve 202 in said chamber seated against the pressure vof fluid from the one of said pipesactingvon the seating face of the valve.

The communications including the check valves 218 and 219 in the maneuvering control device 65, associated with engine I, will not and are not intended to act in the manner just described for Ithose associated with engine 2 in case of failure of fluid pressure in the supply pipe 14, since such failure will result in failure of supply of fluid pressure to the pilots control device 61 rendering same ineffective to supply iluid under pressure to either the ahead or astern control pipes 205 or 206.

When an operator is working on an engine making adjustment to the valve gear or any other part of the engine, it is desirable to prevent that engine from being unintentionally started by operation of either the engineers control device 66 or of the pilots control device 61, and this maybe accomplished by the cut-oil valves 80 and 19 which may be located immediately adjacent the respective, engines I and 2.

As before mentioned, both of the cut-off valves 88 and 19 are ofthe type arranged to close communication through the pipes in which they are disposed and to release fluid under pressure from the pipe connected to the outlet side thereof. Thus movement o-f the cut-oil" valve 80 to its closed position will vent the fluid pressure from the pipe between said valve and the maneuvering control valve 65 associated with engine I and thereby vrelease the fluid pressure from passage I06in the bracket 85 and thus from valve chamber 96 in the respective ahead and astern control valve devices 93 and 94.

In case the pilots control valve device- 61 should be unintentionally operated, with the cutoi valve 80 closed, to supply fluid to either the ahead or astern control pipe 205 or 206 and thence to either the ahead or astern valve device 93 or 94 at engine I, the operation of the latter device will have no effect upon the reversing piston 88 at said engine, and said piston will remain in its last occupied position with the chambers at the opposite sides open to atmosphere either by way of the release valves 91 and I4I in said ahead or astern control valve devices, or past the supply valves 95 and |4I to chamber 96 which will be open to the atmosphere at this time by Way of the closed cut-off valve 80. Movement of the pilots control valve device 61 to either start position will supply fluid under pressure to the starting control pipe 201 through which it will flow to chamber |60 in the starting control device |55 at engine I, but said starting control device cannot be operated to supply fluid to the starting air pipe 3| with the cut-off valve 8|) closed and causing chambers 89 and 9| at opposite sides of the reversing piston 88 to be open to the atmosphere. Thus with the cut-off valve 80 closed the maneuvering control device E5,-associated with engine I, cannot be operated from either the pilots or engineers station to change the condition of said engine while being worked upon by a workman, and the same is true with respect to engine 2 upon closing of the cutoil valve 19.

The closing of the cut-off valve 80 with the consequent cutting off of the supply of fluid under pressure for holding seated the rotary valve 202 in the selector valve device 68 associated with engine I would result, in case of loss of fluid pressure from said chamber by leakage past the check valve 211, in blowing the rotary valve 202 off of its seat upon operation of the pilots control device 61 for controlling the operation of engine 2, in case it is in an operating condition. This however is prevented by supplying iluid under pressure to the rotary valve chamber from either the ahead or astern control pipes 205 or 206 by way of the check valves 218 or 219, respectively, in the manner above described.

In a like manner the communications including check valves 218 and 219 in the selector valve device 66, associated with engine 2, function to prej vent the rotary valve 202 therein from being blown from its seat upon operation of the pilots control device 61 in case the cut-olf valve 19 in the fluid pressure supply connection to the maneuvering control device 65 associated with engine 2 is closed.

The closing of either cut-off valve 19 or 80 cuts off the supply of fluid pressure to the respective -engineers control device 66, so that operation of said device can have no effect upon the respective maneuvering control device 65.

From the above description it will be seen that in each maneuvering control device, the purpose of check valve 211 is to prevent flow to passage |06 of fluid supplied past either check valve 218 or 219 to passage 216. The check valve 218 acts in a like manner upon supply of fluid under pressure to passage 216 past either check valve 211 or 219, while check valve 219 also acts in the same manner upon supply of iluid under pressure to passage 216 past either check valve 211 or 218.

Summary From the above description it will now be seen that we have provided a fluid pressure control apparatus embodying a dual fluid pressure supply -system each of which is normally employed but which in case of failure of either supply provides for continued operation of the apparatus by fluid under pressure from the other supply. The appa- `ratus further embodies novel arrangements to Yinsure integrity of operation thereof in case of failure of either fluid pressure supply and to positively protect a workman against injury while working on the engine in case of operation of either the pilots or engineers control devices.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A control system comprising in combination,

two 'separate control devices each comprising a rotary valve contained in a chamber and having a fluid conducting 4communication open to the seating face of said rotary valve and arranged tobe charged with fluid under pressure which will act on said rotary valve and tend to unseat same, two individual uid pressure supply pipes -one` connected to each of said chambers for supplying fluid under pressure thereto to act on said rotary valve to hold same seated, a check valve in theconnection between each of said pipes and the respective chamber arranged to prevent backflow of fluid under pressure from. the chamber, a single control device operable to supply fluid under pressure from one of said pipes to both of said fluid conducting communications, a connection in each of said control devices between said fluid conducting communication therein and the respective rotary valve chamber providing for ilow of fluid under pressure from the fluid conducting communication therein to the respective rotary valve chamber, and a check valve in each of said connections arranged to prevent flow of fluid out of the respective chamber to the connection with the respective fluid conducting communication.

2. A control system comprising in combination, two separate control devices each comprising a 23 rotary valve contained in a chamber and having a fluid conducting communication open to the seating face of said rotary valve and arranged to be charged with iluid under pressure which will act on said rotary valve and tend to unseat same, two individual fluid pressure supply pipes one connected to each of said chambers for supplying iiuid under pressure thereto to act on said rotary valve to hold same seated, a check valve in the connection between each of said pipes and the respective chamber arranged to prevent backflow of fluid under pressure from the chamber,

' a single control device operable to supply fluid under pressure from one of said pipes to both o said fluid conducting communications, a connection in each of said control devices between the fluid conducting communication therein and the respective rotary valve chamber providing for flow of fluid under pressure from the fluid conducting communication therein to the respective rotary valve chamber, a check valve in each of said connections arranged to prevent flow of fluid out of the respective chamber to the connection with the respective fluid conducting communication, and a cut-off valve device in each of said supply pipes operable to cut off the supply of fluid under pressure to the respective control.

device and to release the fluid under pressure from the connection to such control device, the said cut-oi valve device in said one supply pipe being disposed between the respective check valve and 'the connection between said one supply pipe and said single control device.

3. A control device comprising a valve contained in a chamber, a communication opening to the seat of said valve and arranged to be charged with fluid under pressure which will act on said valve and tend to unseat same, a passage for supplying fluid under pressure to said chamber to act on said valve for holding same seated against pressure of fluid in said communication, a check valve in said passage arranged to prevent back-flow of fluid under pressure through said passage out of said chamber, another passage connecting said communication to said chamber, a check valve in the last named passage arranged to prevent flow of fluids under pressure therethrough out of said chamber, another passage open to said valve seat, and means in said valve for opening said communication to the last named passage in a chosen position of said Valve on said seat.

4. A control system comprising in combination,

-two separate means each comprising a rotary valve contained in a chamber and having a uid conducting communication open to the seating face of said valve and arranged to be charged with iiuid under pressure which will act on said rotary valve and tend to unseat same, two individual fluid pressure supply pipes one connected to each of said chambers for conveying fluid under pressure thereto to act on the respective rotary valve to hold same seated, an operators control device operable to open one of said supply pipes to said communication in both of said separate means topermit flow of fluid under pressure to said communication, a check valve in each of said supply pipes for preventing flow of fluid under pressure through the respective pipe in the direction away from the respective one of said chambers, a third pipe connected to one of said two supply pipes between the respective check valve and chamber and also connected to the other of said supply pipes between the respective check valve and chamber, and a two position valve disposed in and controlling communication through said third pipe and operative in one of said two positions to close communication through said third pipe and in the other of said two positions to open communication through said third pipe.

5. A control system comprising in combination, two uid pressure supply pipes, two fluid pressure controlled valve devices to each of which one of said pipes is connected, and each of said valve devices being operable by uid under pressure to establish a communication to the respective pipe to permit flow of fluid under pressure from the respective pipe to effect a desired operation, an operators control device operable to supply fluid under pressure from one of said pipes to both of said iiuid pressure controlled devices to effect operation thereof, a check valve in each of said pipes for preventing ilow of iluid through the pipe in a direction away from the respective iluid pressure controlled valve device, a third pipe connected to one of said pipes between the respective check valve and fluid pressure controlled valve device and connected to the other pipe between the respective check valve and fluid pressure controlled valve device, and a valve in said third pipe controlling communication through said third pipe between said one and other pipes and selectively operable to `either open or close such communication.

HARRY C. MAY. ROY R. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 345,056 Henneboehle July 6, 1886 553,851 Hardie Feb. 4, 1896 711,755 Blake Oct. 21, 1902 845,708 Fulton Feb. 26, 1907 1,507,973 Mohn Sept. 9, 1924 1,947,616 Riney Feb. 20, 1934 2,091,110 Smallen Aug. 24, 1937 

